A WOMAN has been granted conditional bail, charged with defrauding a machinery business of almost $90,000. Following an investigation which has spanned almost four years, the 47-year-old Guyra woman was charged after handing herself in to detectives at Armidale Police Station. She is accused of 56 separate charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. Detectives will allege in court the woman defrauded a machinery business in Armidale of almost $90,000 between 2010 and 2013. The woman does not currently work for the local company. Police were notified in late-2014 by the business, before detectives took charge of the investigation. “This particular matter involved a thorough review and audit of the business’s accounts and financial processes over a number of years,” New England Detective Sergeant Matt Crotty told Fairfax Media. “That audit of accounts culminated in this arrest by Armidale detectives at Armidale Police Station.” The woman was questioned by investigators at the station before being charged with 56 separate offences. She was granted strict conditional bail by police and has been ordered to front court in Armidale in October. READ ALSO: Detective Sergeant Crotty said investigations were continuing. “These sorts of matters are difficult to detect, and difficult to investigate,” he said. “This was a lengthy investigation that was made possible with the co-operation and assistance of the company involved.” Detective Sergeant Crotty said the nature of white-collar crime meant it was often difficult to trace, and forensic audits of accounts took time. “White-collar crime investigations and investigations into frauds, particularly with businesses, are often tedious, arduous, and at times, complex when trying to uncover white collar crime in the community,” he said. “Forensic audits of accounts and the financial processes of businesses are scrutinised by investigators, which can be complex.”

“These sorts of matters are difficult to detect, and difficult to investigate,” he said.

“This was a lengthy investigation that was made possible with the co-operation and assistance of the company involved.”

Detective Sergeant Crotty said the nature of white-collar crime meant it was often difficult to trace, and forensic audits of accounts took time.

“White-collar crime investigations and investigations into frauds, particularly with businesses, are often tedious, arduous, and at times, complex when trying to uncover white collar crime in the community,” he said.

“Forensic audits of accounts and the financial processes of businesses are scrutinised by investigators, which can be complex.”